Manicuring device



1 April 20, 1965 R. J- FOGLE ETAL MANICURING DEVICE Filed Aug. 27. 1962 INVENTORS /6wn,ep J F0645 45x .5 5/95/05 BY ,4 7' TOP/KEY} 3) and width (FIGURE 1).

United States Patent 3,l79,l13 MANICURENG BEVICE Richard .F. Fogle, 123 Steeplechase Drive, and Alan S. Sachen, 1216 Cedar Creek, both of Racine, Wis. Fiied Aug. 27, 1362, Ser. No. 219,442 6 Claims. (til. 132-73) This invention relates to a manicuring tool of the type comprising a ring-like structure having a cleaning point extending therefrom for cleaning nails.

Prior art devices of this general character have utilized cleaning points which extend from the ring in a variety of directions. These prior devices have been awkward to use, incapable of accommodating different shapes or sizes of nails or finger ends, diificult to guide under the nail in proper cleaning relationship, and incapable of cleaning long nails.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ring-type manicuring tool which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art devices.

A more specific aspect of the present invention is to provide a ring-type manicure tool which is formed with a gap therethrough, that is to say, it is formed as a noncontinuous ring; a cleaning point is located on one end of the non-continuous ring and adjacent the gap, the point being directed in an axial direction and also radially inwardly. As a result, the improved manicuring device has an internal surface/which is curved in such a manner as to closely fit and hug the natural contour of the end of the finger and presents an effective cleaning point under the nail; the point is smoothly and easily drawn around under the nail in an eifective relationship thereto as the device pivots on and is. guided by the end of the finger; the smooth sliding action of the guided point across the end of the finger and under the nail can completely clean point extending therefrom for cleaning nails.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to its use for treating the cuticle portion of the nail. More specifically, the ring is slipped over the finger end where the axially and inwardly directed point rests on the nail and its end bears effectively against the cuticle; by simply rotating the ring on the finger end, the point urges the cuticle back on the nail to its proper position.

Another more specific object of the present invention is to provide an axially and inwardly directed point on one end of a non-continuous ring, and which point is shielded to thereby avoid injury to a pocket or purse in which it can be conveniently carried, and at the same time the point is effective for purposes for which it was designed.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter as this disclosure progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a manicuring device made in accordance with the present invention, and showing it in use on a finger to clean the nail;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the device, taken gen erally from line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a side View of the device as applied to a finger for manicuring the cuticle; and

FIGURE 5 is a view taken along 5-5 in FIGURE 2.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, the manicuring device comprises a ring 5' which is non-continuous in that it has a gap 6 extending therethrough that is defined by the two end portions 7 and 8 of the ring. The ring is generally rectangular in cross section except for the portion 8 which is of reduced thickness (FIGURE As viewed in FIGURE 4, the ends are also axially ofiset from one another.

ice

A cleaning point It} is located at the free end of portion 8 and is generally of a flat triangular shape and has a sharp and rather narrow inner end 11. The point 10 thus extends or is directed in an axial direction (see FIGURE 3) and also in a radially inward direction (see FIGURE 2).

The point also has a leading edge 12 and a beveled surface 13 or chamfer extends rearwardly therefrom so that the edge 12 is rather sharp and can bear firmly in cleaning engagement with the undersurface of the nail to be cleaned. The generally inwardly and axially inclined edge 14 is also sharp as it has a chamfered relief surface 15 extending rearwardly therefrom in the direction of ring rotation and acts to clean the end of the finger as will appear.

As viewed in FIGURE 1, the general internal surface 16 of the ring, including the point ltll, forms a continuous curve which complements the general curve of the end of a finger.

In use, the finger end is placed in the ring and pressed snugly into this curve and the point it is located in complete cleaning contact under the nail.

At the beginning of the cleaning operation, the point is located at one side of the nail, and the ring is then twisted or rotated by the other hand and is guided on or piloted by the end of the inserted finger. The action is such that the ring hugs the finger end and the point is accurately and smoothly drawn around the finger end and under the nail, and the sharp edge 12 and end 11 act to firmly engage and completely clean the underside of the nail, and edge 14 acts to clean or scrape the end of the fingerllocated beneath the nail.

As the ring is rotated relative to the nail, or vice versa, or both, the nail passes through the gap 6 between the end portions of the ring. Regardless of the length of the nail being cleaned, no obstruction is presented to prevent a continuous cleaning movement across the end of the finger.

Depending on the size of the finger end, or shape of the nail, the ring can be tilted or canted in a generally longitudinal direction relative to the length of the finger, so as to maintain good seating contact of the finger end in the internal curved portion 16 of the ring and good cleaning contact with the point.

The ring can also be used for treating the cuticle portion of the nail, as shown in FIGURE 4. In this situation, the end 11 rests on the nail and is urged against the cuticle to push it back on the nail the desired amount. This operation also involves a simple twisting movement of the ring around the finger end and at the same time pressing the end 11 against the cuticle. Due to the axially and inwardly direction of the point It), good contact with the cuticle is provided.

The sharp point 10 is protected from inadvertently engaging the purse or pocket in which it is carried, because of the other end portion 7 which is located an axially spaced distance from the point 10. Point 10 extends generally toward the end portion 7 as shown in FIGURE 3 and is protected or partially shielded thereby. Another cleaning point 21 of conventional nature may also be provided on the end of portion 7 for various purposes.

The ring may also have a file surface 20 around one of its sides for filing of the nail in a manner known with this general type of ring manicure device.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

We claim:

1. A manicuring device for fingernails comprising a non-continuous ring having opposite ends defining a gap through the ring, a cleaning point at one of said ends, said point extending out of the plane of said end so as to extend axially and radially inwardly with respect to said ring, said ring adapted to he slipped over a finger with said point extending under the nail of said finger whereby as said ring is twisted and piloted on the end of said finger, said point will be guided in sweeping relationship beneath said nail.

2. A manicuring device for fingernails comprising a non-continuous ring having opposite ends defining a gap through the ring, a generally triangular shaped and fiat cleaning point at one of said ends, said point extending out of the plane of said end so as to extend axially with respect to said ring and radially inwardly thereof, and

terminating in a sharp end, said ring adapted to he slipped over a finger with said point extending under the nail of said finger whereby as said ring is twisted and piloted adapted to he slipped over said finger in said abutting relationship and with said point extending under the nail of said finger whereby as said ring is twisted and piloted on the end of said finger, said point will be guided in sweeping relationship beneath said nail.

4. A manicuring device for finger-nails comprising a non-continuous ring having opposite ends defining a gap through the ring, a generally triangular shaped and fiat cleaning point at one of said ends, said point extending out of the plane of said end so as to extend axially with respect to said ring and radially inwardly thereof, and terminating in a sharp end, said point and the internal diameter of said ring forming a generally continuous curve for abutting against the end of a finger to be cleaned, said ring adapted to be slipped over said finger in said abutting relationship and with said point extending under Al. the nail of said finger whereby as said ring is twisted and piloted on the end of said finger, said point will be guided in sweeping contact with the underside of said nail.

5. A manicuring device for fingernails comprising a non-continuous ring having opposite ends defining a gap through the ring, a cleaning point at one of said ends, said point extending out of the plane of said end so as to extend axially and radially inwardly with respect to said ring, said ring adapted to he slipped over a finger with said point extending under the nail of said finger whereby as said ring is twisted and piloted on the end of said finger, said point will be guided in sweeping relationship beneath said nail, the other end of said ring being axially spaced from said one end and at the same side thereof as is said point and to thereby partially shield the latter.

6. A ma-nicuring device for fingernails comprising a non-continuous ring having opposite ends defining a gap through the ring, a generally triangular shaped and ilat cleaning point at one of said ends, said point extending out of the plane of said end so as to extend axially with respect to said ring and radially inwardly thereof, and terminating in a sharp end, said ring adapted to he slipped over a finger with said point extending under the nail of said finger whereby as said ring is twisted and piloted on the end of said finger, said point will be guided in sweeping contact with the underside of said nail, the other end of said ring being axially spaced from said one end and at the same side thereof as is said point to thereby partially shield the latter.

Reierences (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,473,717 11/23 Atkinson 13273.5 1,900,028 3/33 Snider 132-73 2,494,414 1/50 Snider 132-756 2,540,625 2/51 Loomis 132-75.6

FOREIGN PATENTS 299,268 10/28 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner. 

1. A MANICURING DEVICE FOR FINGERNAILS COMPRISING A NON-CONTINUOUS RING HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS DEFINING A GAP THROUGH THE RING, A CLEANING POINT AT ONE END OF SAID ENDS, SAID POINT EXTENDING OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID END SO AS TO EXTEND AXIALLY AND RADIALLY INWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID RING, SAID RING ADAPTED TO BE SLIPPED OVER A FINGER WITH SAID POINT EXTENDING UNDER THE NAIL OF SAID FINGER 